June 24: Tea & Tales for the Old Y Centennial

The Old Y Centre for Community Organizations and city artist Shelley Ouellet will be hosting a tea party to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Old Y building. Guests will be served tea at tables adorned with commemorative tablecloths and invited to share their Tales of the Old Y. Some of the guests will arrive with their old-style bikes and dressed up in early 20th-century fashion.

The Old Y was built in 1911 as a YWCA residence for young women and is the oldest, purpose-built, social service facility in the city.

More than 50 community organizations rent office space and share resources at the Old Y Centre.

Co-host of the tea, Shelley Ouellet, is a multimedia artist who teaches at the Alberta College of Art and Design. Her work includes large-scale sculpture and installation projects as well as web-based work, video and performance art. She has exhibited across Canada and the U.K. and is working toward a solo show at Stride Gallery in September.